Thumbnail: Coming off of one of the most exciting games in recent history, the Celtics now travel to Charlotte to face the Bobcats on the second night of a back-to-back. Fortunately for the Celtics, they face a team that has lost seven consecutive games and 15 of its last 17. Since starting the season 7-5, the Bobcats have won just four games overall. After Boston played the long three-overtime thriller on Sunday, the Celtics’ bench will need to step up to be victorious Monday.

Paul Pierce’s 54 minutes played tied his career-high as he recorded one of the most impressive triple-doubles in franchise history. The Celtics also moved to 8-0 all-time in the regular season when Pierce gets a triple-double. Kevin Garnett set back the clock with his performance. His 47 minutes were his most in a Celtics uniform and that was the first time he accumulated 20 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks in the same game since 2005.

Jason Terry will need to continue his hot shooting for the Celtics to succeed against the Bobcats. He set new season-highs with 26 points and five three-pointers made against the Nuggets on Sunday. Celtics fans have to be in support of Terry putting up 22 shots because he is still one of the most productive shooters in the game. Another very bright spot for Boston is Jeff Green, who scored double-digit points for the seventh time in his last eight games. During that span, he is averaging 14.4 points per game and has had some extremely clutch buckets. Terry and Green hope to continue to play well at Charlotte.

Prediction: The Celtics keep the wins coming and take down the Bobcats, moving Boston’s record to 7-6 on the second night of back-to-backs this season.

Celtics 99, Bobcats 93

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If Noah doesn't play in the ASG, Pierce have to be the heavy favorite to replace him correct?

I hope the Celts are well rested and don't take the Bobcats lightly. Having said that, let's see 8 in a row.

Go Celts!

OKCeltic

Since they're both playing, best case scenario would be for KG and PP to play under 20 mins each. Bench needs to make that happen.

Phil725

This is certainly living up to the 'show up, expend as little energy as possible and get out with a win over a terrible team' billing.

Hopefully the bench plays really well in the third and puts the game out of reach, because I don't want the starters playing too many minutes, and I'm not sure they give the team the best chance to win today based on what I've seen in this first half.

hydrofluoric

I'd love to be a 'Cats fan. Those guys look clueless at times, but I'll be damned if they don't bring it.

THAT BLOCK ON BASS!

hydrofluoric

I love these Charlotte commentators. They're so excited about their team and they don't bother to get any of the Celtics correct. Thought that KG was the one taking a charge (it was Pierce) and blithely called Lee "Avery Bradley" as he drove.

Switcharoo

If this was any other time the Celtics would REALLY be struggling. I still think its going to be tighter than it should be.
Hoping they open it up in the second half.

hydrofluoric

In fairness, Charlotte is athletic (if insanely unskilled) – and they've got a great interior presence in Bismack Biyombo. Has really been punishing the Cs' guards in the paint.

The Cardinal

Ditto. I'm watching the Charlotte broadcast too and it cracked me up during their pregame analysis that the 'Cats have to run because "the Celtics don't want to." Every single opposition broadcast team repeats that general statement and I keep thinking "don't you guys do your homework anymore?"

On another note I never thought I'd say this, but Bass hands may be worse that stone-hand Perk, and possibly his sense of timing too. Someone once posted that he has the lowest basketball IQ of just about anyone and I tend to agree. Game after game after game he muffs dunks, he tries to dribble drive when he has the open jumper and vice versa, and in general he moves like he's doing the funky robot.

Sometimes I'm convinced just about anyone PF in the league or D-League with decent hops and mobility would be an upgrade over him, but then he will actually surprise me by making a decent play. He is by far and away the most frustrating player on the roster.

Phil725

Wilcox may be trying to dispute that 'worst hands on the team' title lately. He's making it routine now to get perfect position for easy baskets, only to have the ball clank off of his hands.

As far as Bass goes, I'd suggest not looking at his contract details. It makes him 'way' more frustrating.

The Cardinal

True dat. In the past he's always caught the ball well so I don't know whether he's pressing or what now that Doc let's him play.

Phil725

This is definitely the flattest the starters have been since this streak began.

My boy Wilcox is coming in to save the day though, so don't worry.

Anthony

I really didn't want to complain about the refs but that's 3 missed called on the lower right baseline! All the plays were right in front of their face. SMH

Jeff Green could improve so much on the offensive end by just adding tiny improvements to his game. If he could finish through contact just a tiny bit more, all of these bumps in the lane would be three point plays.

Of course, I'm also well aware that 'seeming one tiny improvement away from dominance' is what you find when you look Jeff Green up in Urban Dictionary.

hydrofluoric

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF BARBOSA DOWN

Phil725

If it's 'when it rains, it pours.' What's the next step? 'When it pours, it just starts s***ting on you mercilessly?'

That looked really bad with Barbosa. I'm hoping he's okay, but that's not the way you want to see a guy go down.

The Cardinal

I hope like heck he's able to return after the All Star break. Otherwise I suspect Danny will gut it out until the trade deadline before adding another guard.

Phil725

Reaally shaky game for the officials.

KillerGymRat

Can somebody please tell me why nobody attacks the basket when we have a lead an it's under 2 minutes. Ice it from the line and stop taking long J's.

Phil725

Just one of those days.

KillerGymRat

That KG shot made no sense. Too much time on the clock even if it went in. Work it in and get a better shot. Or hey, drive and draw a foul.

hydrofluoric

Talk about a bucket of cold water on the hottest team in the league, huh.

Phil725

This one leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Not a good loss at all.

KillerGymRat

Oof. That was just a terrible finish to the game. Nothing worse then a bad loss to sour an incredible win.

elroz

Boston ends up being outscored 0-7 in the end… but hey, Charlotte is the NBA scavenger, sitting at home on a team that played 3OT last night!

I don't feel bad about the team at all after tonight….

tbunny

POOP

The Cardinal

I was really hoping Doc would trust his reserves and we wouldn't see KG and PP (or that much of them) during the 4th Quarter cuz they both were out of gas at the half. Down the stretch, I really thought we had a better chance to win with the reserves than our exhausted stars, but Doc is pretty stubborn and San Antonio we ain't.

Oh well…we had to lose eventually and this one is somewhat understandable.

Phil725

Sums up my feelings pretty well. For better or worse, Doc's not adjusting to anything within a game, that's for sure. That's why I was hoping the bench would come through in the second half and take the choice out of his hands. They didn't, and it ended pretty much exactly how the starters telegraphed it would early.

Anthony

Agreed. The 3rd quarter basically consisted of giving Pierce the ball and get out the way. It wasn't until JGreen and Jet subbed in that they regained the lead. Why did JGreen only play 24 mins when he clearly was going to have a big night and everyone the Bobcats was a mismatch? I just can't believe up 4 with a min and a haf and you lose to the Bobcats. Pop doesn't care about streaks but he definitely would've made better adjustments that Doc. i'm watching Spurs vs. Bulls game and it's pretty amazing how disciplined and hard the Spurs play.

Hope Barbosa is OK. It's never good to come up limping when there's no contact.

KillerGymRat

Pop would've sat both KG and PP and possibly even Terry….and forced the second unit to play their asses off and gut out a win. Melo would've even gotten big run.

This is definitely the kind of game where you wonder if Doc is overrated. He's definitely no Popovich.

And ditto on Barbosa.

Josh_5

You kinda saw this loss coming. The guys fought hard and hung in there, but we needed more from our bench tonight. (I'm including Courtney Lee in this). Tough loss but another grit and balls effort.

Switcharoo

And now no Barbosa? Dammmmmmmmmmmnnnit!
Three down in a month?
But yea, I kinda saw this loss coming, I think most everybody did, even though it was the Bobcats. Coming off a knockdown drag out triple OT win playing against a rested, determined, home court, but at least the Cs kept it close. And of course I would have loved to have seen how far Boston could stretch that streak, but still, 7 in a row tells me this team still has a lot of grit and balls. I love this team!

Side note: Did Mike Gorman call Doc a bastard or a master? Don’t know if any one else caught that or not but I got a chuckle either way

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